The National Identification Authority (NIA) has introduced a new 24-hour Prestige Service to provide greater access to Ghana Card registration and related identity services beyond the Authority’s regular working hours.
The initiative, being implemented in partnership with private entities, is designed to ensure that members of the public can access essential Ghana Card services at any time, including nights and weekends.
The NIA Executive Secretary, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, on Wednesday led the media to the NIA Prestige Centre at Labone, near Indulge Restaurant, to tour the facility, experience the services and learn more about the new 24-hour operating model.
Mr. Deku explained that the service operates around the clock through a shift system, with different teams working throughout the day and night to ensure continuous service delivery.
He said the initiative had become necessary because the Ghana Card has become an essential document for accessing a wide range of public and private services.
According to him, the Prestige Service is intended to complement the Authority’s existing services and provide an alternative for people who may be unable to visit NIA offices during conventional working hours.
The centres are being established through partnerships with private entities, which provide the buildings and spaces for the operations, while the NIA provides the necessary identification machines, personnel and security arrangements.
How the Prestige Service works
Applicants can begin the Ghana Card registration process online, complete the required information and make the necessary payments before visiting a Prestige Centre for biometric capture and issuance.
Applicants who complete the online pre-registration process only need to visit the centre for biometric capture and issuance of their cards.
The NIA says such applicants could complete the process within approximately five to ten minutes, provided all the required steps have been completed online.
For applicants who walk into the centre without completing the online registration, front-desk personnel and registration officers will assist them to initiate and complete the online process before they proceed to biometric capture and card issuance.
The Authority says the standard Ghana Card registration fee is paid online, while applicants using the Prestige Service are required to pay an additional service charge for the premium 24-hour service.
About 61 people registered since launch
The first Prestige Centre began operations on August 1, 2026.
As of August 12, the centre had recorded approximately 61 people accessing registration services, according to the NIA.
The Authority says applicants have been visiting the facility at different times, including during the night, demonstrating the demand for identity services outside conventional working hours.
Mr. Deku urged the media to help create awareness about the initiative, noting that some members of the public are still unaware that the 24-hour service is available.
Expansion to Ashanti Region and other parts of Ghana
The NIA is also preparing to expand the Prestige Service beyond Accra.
Two additional centres are expected to open in the Ashanti Region this weekend, with further expansion planned based on demand and applications from private-sector partners.
The Authority says it is targeting the establishment of about 20 Prestige Centres, with the expansion expected to create more than 120 employment opportunities.
The jobs will support the operation of the centres, including registration and customer-service functions, as the initiative expands to more parts of the country.
The NIA says other regions will also be considered as private entities submit applications to partner with the Authority.
Mr. Deku stressed that the initiative is intended to ensure that Ghanaians are not left without access to essential identity services simply because they are unable to visit an NIA office during regular working hours.
The NIA therefore says the Prestige Service will provide an additional channel for people to access Ghana Card services conveniently, while complementing the Authority’s existing registration and premium service channels.
Story by : Belinda Anim Piesie
